The 5^th International Conference on Green Architecture (ICGrA 2027) will provide an international platform for researchers, academics, architects, engineers, policymakers, industry professionals and development partners to exchange knowledge and promote innovative approaches to sustainable buildings and communities. The built environment is a major consumer of natural resources and a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Addressing these challenges requires a transition towards circular, resource-efficient and nearly zero-emission communities through integrated research, innovation and sustainable design strategies.

Jointly organized by the Green Architecture Cell (GrACe), Department of Architecture (DoA), Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh, and the Department of Architecture (DoA), Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Dhaka, Bangladesh, the conference builds upon the strong legacy and success of ICGrA 2017 (BUET, Dhaka), ICGrA 2018 (ICCB, Dhaka), ICGrA 2025 (CUET, Chattogram), and ICGrA 2026 (SUST, Sylhet) in fostering innovation, collaboration and critical discourse in green architecture. The conference is led by GrACe, DoA, BUET, and hosted by DoA, MIST, in collaboration with other renowned national and international partners.

The conference theme, Circularity in Nearly Zero Emission Communities through Research and Innovation, emphasizes integrating circular economy principles with whole-life decarbonization. The Bengali expression নিজে করি (neZECoRI), meaning “Let us do it ourselves,” highlights collective responsibility, locally driven innovation and practical action towards sustainability. Circularity extends beyond conventional waste management to encompass the entire life cycle of buildings, materials and resources. The 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle) provide a foundational approach to minimizing resource consumption and waste. The broader 10Rs framework (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover) expands this approach by prioritizing resource avoidance, efficient design, product-life extension and material value retention. Applied to the built environment, these strategies encourage adaptive reuse of buildings, durable, repairable components, design for disassembly, responsible material selection and resource recovery at the end of service life.

Whole-life decarbonization complements circularity by reducing operational and embodied greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Passive and climate-responsive design, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, low-carbon materials and improved construction practices can reduce building-related carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) emissions. Life cycle assessment (LCA) can inform decisions by evaluating the environmental implications of alternative materials, systems and circular strategies.

In Bangladesh, these priorities are particularly relevant to sustainable urbanization, climate resilience, resource security and national climate commitments. ICGrA 2027 aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and translate research into practical solutions, advancing circular, climate-responsive and nearly zero-emission communities through innovation, knowledge exchange and coordinated action.

We look forward to meeting you at the ICGrA - 2027.